Making life easier for the most loyal fans willing to follow Flamengo in the cities where the football team plays. This is the main objective of "Onde Estiver Estarei," the Rio de Janeiro club's official travel program. The initiative is the result of a partnership between Flamengo, tour operator Marsans Viagens, and sports management company Golden Goal Sports Ventures.
The idea for the program stems from a unique characteristic of Flamengo's fans: their nationwide presence, as explained by Ricardo Hinrichsen, the club's executive marketing director: "About 80% of our fans are outside of Rio de Janeiro. For Flamengo fans, Maracanã is the Mecca of football. So every Flamengo fan needs to come to Maracanã at least once in their life, and this project will make that dream come true," explains Hinrichsen.
The program will offer two types of packages. For fans outside of Rio, the "O Maraca é Nosso" package has been created, highlighting the match at Maracanã. In addition to the match, the program will include a tourist itinerary in Rio de Janeiro and other club-related attractions. The second package, called "Pra cima eles Mengo" (Up to them, Mengo), will take fans to the cities where Flamengo plays.
The "Pra cima eles Mengo" package naturally depends on the opposing club's cooperation, as explained by Golden Goal's executive director, Carlos Eduardo Ferreira: "The program's main focus will be to bring fans from outside Rio to watch the games at Maracanã. Regarding away games, we will always be concerned about ensuring the safety and comfort of Flamengo fans. Therefore, we will negotiate club-by-club, and whenever there is cooperation regarding ticket guarantees and secure access to the stadium, the trip will be made available."
The "Onde Estiver Estarei" packages include match tickets, flights, transfers (airport-hotel; hotel-airport) accompanied by a registered guide with the Ministry of Tourism, a personalized Flamengo gift kit, city tour options, and a raffle for an official jersey autographed by the team. Interested parties can purchase packages now for the match between Flamengo and Atlético-PR on May 31st, the date of striker Adriano's likely debut at Maracanã. Subsequently, packages will be available for matches in all of Flamengo's 2009 championships.
According to Paulo Pimentel, marketing manager at Marsans, what sets the Flamengo program apart from other similar programs on the market is the combination of several key factors that make this type of program a success: "Our efforts will be focused on offering the best travel content with flexibility, affordable prices, financing in up to 10 installments, and comfort in the stadiums, in addition to impeccable logistics."
Website – The website www.ondeestiverestarei.com.br contains the dates and locations of the matches where the packages will be sold, with prices and all the information to make the most of the Rubro-Negra fans' main chant.
Marsans – Today, the largest tourism group in Spain and one of the largest in the world. The operator celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. It was chosen by FIFA to be one of the tour operators for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Golden Goal – Milan's marketing arm in Brazil, the company also manages the career of former player and current Milan director, Leonardo, and has extensive experience in corporate hospitality.